2007-05-02
Voltimum’s roving reporter Frankie Snobel boarded the CHP Group’s Woking Bus Tour on her quest to understand the award winning borough’s green technology. Praised by environmental agencies, visited by royalty, and now toured by curious local authorities, building owners and operators, should Woking be an example for future communities? Frankie Snobel reports:
Home to author H.G. Wells and featured in War of the Worlds, Woking Borough
has always had strong ties to science fiction. Upon closer inspection,
however, science fact is what truly makes Woking stand out from the crowd.
More specifically, their implementation of green energy technology.
Located twenty-five miles southwest to London’s hustle and bustle, Woking
combines cosmopolitan community with countryside. It’s only upon close
inspection one can see the advanced eco-technology built in amongst the
framework. These pioneer “systems” are great examples for future green
communities.
Woking’s first approach to sustainable energy was in the late 1980’s, long
before “global warming” and “climate change” became an imminent threat to our
planet. Woking’s initial reasons for experimenting with so-called
“greener” technology were not environmental, but rather financial, as saving
energy meant saving money.
With generous sums of money funded by the Energy Savings Trust, Woking
Borough Council was one of the first local authorities in the UK to implement
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems along with photovoltaic systems into the
community.
“CHP” and “photovoltaic” sound quite impressive, but what really lies beneath
their flashy scientific terminology? Before one can fully appreciate the
complexity of Woking’s structural accomplishments, on needs to understand the
basics of these two systems.
CHP in a nutshell:
Woking's CHP system involves a
fuel cell, much like a battery, except fuel is supplied into the cell to
generate heat and electricity by an electro-chemical process. The output
emission from the reaction is pure water.
The CHP fuel cell contains and
anode and a cathode, each insulated by electrolyte. The anode is supplied
with hydrogen from hydrogen gas chemically reformed from natural gas, and the
cathode is supplied with oxygen extracted from outside air. The chemical
reaction within the cell creates electric current heat and water.
This fuel
cell technology does not burn any fuel and generates 50% more electricity than
conventional methods. CO2 emissions are therefore reduced, and the
Government’s sustainability criteria for exemption from the Climate Change Levy
are met.
Photovoltaics (PV) in a nutshell:
This solar powered
technology uses PV cells to convert energy from the sun (photons) into
electricity. Most commercial PV cells are made of silicon, which acts as a
semi-conductor and can maximize the collection of electrons. When the
sun’s rays meet the PV cell, the photons are absorbed. Some of these
photons go onto separate electrons from the silicon atoms in the cell.
These free electrons exit the cell as energy and eventually return to the cell
to complete the circuit.
Under prime sunny conditions, a silicon solar cell
can covert approximately 15% of the sun’s energy into electricity- a small step
towards reducing the carbon footprint, but a step forward, none-the-less.
All aboard! Mick Company reveals the greener side of
Woking
Run by the CIBSE CHP Group and funded by the Carbon Trust,
the Woking Bus Tour brought together potential purchasers to view a series of
sites displaying CHP in action.
The tour was appropriately guided by Mick
Company, who helped develop the Woking’s green technology while working as a
Climate Change Project Coordinator for Woking Borough Council. Now working
as a self-employed consultant, Company still offers his expertise to the council
and prospective CHP users, yet is still humble enough to take on the role as
Woking Bus Tour guide.
The Sites
Brockhill:
This sheltered accommodation
for elderly residents uses sustainable energy from Woking’s CHP plant and
renewable energy from its large photovoltaic roof. Brockhill made Woking
Borough Council one of the first local authorities to provide an integrated
system of private wire residential CHP and photovoltaic system. During the
lifetime of this system, approximately 4,734 tonnes of CO2 emissions will be
avoided.
Woking Park:
The park is home to a hydrogen fuel cell
CHP, a UK first, which supports the Pool in the Park’s heating and power system
along with Woking Park’s lighting. Every year this individual system
reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 9,990 tonnes.
Hybrolights:
Set amidst the Manor Way
Car Park in Old Woking lies eight futuristic looking street lights. Each light
has four photovoltaic panels and a wind turbine, which collect renewable energy
and store it in an underground solar battery. A fully charged battery
stores enough energy to light the lamp for on average four days. Each
hybrolight reduces approximately 170kg of CO2 emissions a year.
Woking Town Centre CHP
Station:
Supported by the Energy Savings Trust and
developed by Thamesway Energy Limited, the Woking Town Centre CHP Station is the
first commercially operating station of its kind in the UK. This station
uses CHP technology and heat fired absorption cooling (a process used to chill
water for air conditioning) to provide electricity and heated/chilled water
services. Customers of this station include Woking’s Holiday Inn, HG Wells
Conference and Events Centre, Quake Nightclub, Big Apple Leisure Complex and
Metro Hotel, Victoria Way Car Park, and Woking Borough Council’s Civil
Offices.
Albion Square
Canopy:
In its final days of construction, this
technologically advanced canopy extends from the train station entranceway all
the way to Albion House. Its impressive and sleek structure is constructed
of glass and steel and is equipped with over 35,000 photovoltaic cells spanning
the canopy. The environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing Albion
Square Canopy is expected to save over 41 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year through
using renewable solar energy. Any excess energy generated will be exported
to other Council sites.
Green technologies go for gold
Environmental
sustainability is global issue that concerns us all. Woking Borough
Council should be seen as not a blueprint, but rather an example of what can be
achieved on a local level. Awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in
2001 and Beacon Council for Sustainable Energy in 2005, Woking Borough’s green
initiatives are not only recognised but highly respected.
Unfortunately, the Woking Bus Tour has hit a red light after six successful
on-site journeys. More information on Woking and its green technologies
can be found online at www.woking.gov.uk.
Click here
to read more Voltimum articles on CHP.
A call to green Voltimum users
Voltimum is interested
in hearing about what green technologies you have installed or used, as well as
any information on green technology training. Please click here to share with us your green
experience and we will post it on our website.
Francoise Snobel- Voltimum
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| Source: Francoise Snobel - Voltimum, www.pbs.org, www.ucsusa.org, www.specmat.com, www.woking.gov.uk |
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